About
Ellie Kanner, a prolific and award winning director of both feature films and television, has applied her talents over a span of genres, including romantic comedy, comedic thriller, mockumentary, drama and action.
Ellie directed and produced Dropping the Soap, starring Jane Lynch, Paul Witten, Missi Pyle, Diedrich Bader and Patrick Fabian. Jane won an Emmy for her performance in the short form comedy series on Amazon.
Kanner directed and produced the ensemble comedy feature Authors Anonymous, starring Kaley Cuoco, Chris Klein, Jonathan Banks, Dennis Farina, Dylan Walsh and Teri Polo, distributed by Screen Media Films and Starz Digital. She recently directed two Hallmark movies, Love on the Menu and Love and Sunshine.
Her Israeli gangster film, For the Love of Money starring Oded Fehr, James Caan, Eddie Furlong and Jeffrey Tambor was released through Lion’s Gate and Archstone.
Previously she directed the independent feature Crazylove, which debuted at the Hollywood Film Festival and had its American Broadcast premiere on Lifetime on Valentine’s Day. Her film, the dark romantic comedy Wake, starring Bijou Phillips and Ian Somerhalder premiered on opening night at the Cinequest Film Festival.
In addition, Ellie’s directed for the Emmy award winning television series Boston Legal, as well as Greek, Wildfire and The Dead Zone.
Prior to sitting down in the director’s chair, Kanner was an acclaimed casting director. Among her many successes was casting the six lead actors for the pilot and first season of Friends. The show went on the make television history and Kanner received an Artios nomination for the pilot. Her other notable casting credits include the pilots of Sex and the City, The Drew Carey Show, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and multiple seasons of Dawson’s Creek.
She also co-authored two books on auditioning. Next! An Actor’s Guide to Auditioning and How NOT to Audition.
DIRECTOR’S REEL
Scenes and trailers
Credits & Awards
ITALIAN TIES: • Best Comedy at Marco Island Film Festival • Opening Night at Taos Film Festival
DROPPING THE SOAP: • Vancouver Web Fest-Best Director
WAKE: • Opening Night at Cinequest Film Festival
• Medicine For Humanity Award: In recognition of her dedication and compassionate support for Women and Mothers.
• October 26th is Ellie Kanner Day: Mayor of Cathedral City, honoring all of her accomplishments
Directing Credits
FILMS:
• Authors Anonymous • For the Love of Money • Wake • Crazylove • Italian Ties
TELEVISION EPISODIC:
• Boston Legal • Wildfire • Greek • The Dead Zone • The Division
TELEVISION MOVIES:
• Love and Sunshine • Love on the Menu
SHORT FORM SERIES:
• Dropping the Soap • Fix Me • Rachel’s Room